When torsion free acts are principally weakly flat (Q1971725)

The main result is the following list of equivalent conditions for a monoid \(S\). (1) All torsion free \(S\)-acts are principally weakly flat. (2) All cyclic torsion free \(S\)-acts are principally weakly flat. (3) All torsion free Rees factor acts of \(S\) are principally weakly flat. (4) \(S\) is a left almost regular monoid. Here an element \(s\) of the monoid \(S\) is left almost regular if there exist elements \(r,r_1,\ldots,r_m\), \(s_1,\ldots,s_m\in S\) and right cancellable elements \(c_1,\ldots,c_m\in S\) such that \[ s_1c_1=sr_1,\quad s_2c_2=s_1r_2,\quad\ldots,\quad s_mc_m=s_{m-1}r_m,\quad s=s_mrs. \] A monoid \(S\) is left almost regular if all its elements are left almost regular. The author gives examples of a commutative monoid \(S\) which is PP but not almost regular. The converse implication is always true. Moreover, an example of a commutative almost regular monoid \(S\) is given which is not regular and not cancellative.